Brittany's <a href="http://www.groundhouse.com/">solar-powered Groundhouse</a> - conceived over a decade by Daren Howarth and Adrianne Nortje - flips the stereotype that rammed earth homes are only fit for peace-loving hippies. Yes it's earthy - with exterior walls comprised of no less than 150 tons of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rammed_earth">rammed earth</a> formed by tires. But it is also so well-designed and economical that even the least eco-conscious person would enjoy living in it. Bespoke furnishings (made of mostly recycled, salvaged, local or traditional materials) and 14 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/google-invests-to-bring-solar-power-systems-to-3000-homes/">solar panels</a> that produce more energy than the home could ever use make this a winning design for people on all levels of the environmentally-aware spectrum.

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The Groundhouse in Brittany

The Groundhouse is a rammed-earth building in Britanny

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The Groundhouse in Brittany

Made entirely out of local, salvaged or traditional materials, it is the ultimate eco-friendly dwelling

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The Groundhouse in Brittany

Glass embedded in the earth walls break up the monotony of color and permit daylight

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The Groundhouse in Brittany

This is one of three bedrooms with a view of the organic garden.

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The Groundhouse in Brittany

The home is topped with 14 solar panels!

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The Groundhouse in Brittany

The south-facing home enjoys plenty of natural light and warmth

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The Groundhouse in Brittany

The home is organized around a central open plan living and kitchen area

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The Groundhouse in Brittany

All of the home's water is harvested and recycled and it produces more energy than it requires; the rest is sold back to the national grid

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The Groundhouse in Brittany

Brittany's solar-powered Groundhouse - conceived over a decade by Daren Howarth and Adrianne Nortje - flips the stereotype that rammed earth homes are only fit for peace-loving hippies. Yes it's earthy - with exterior walls comprised of no less than 150 tons of rammed earth formed by tires. But it is also so well-designed and economical that even the least eco-conscious person would enjoy living in it. Bespoke furnishings (made of mostly recycled, salvaged, local or traditional materials) and 14 solar panels that produce more energy than the home could ever use make this a winning design for people on all levels of the environmentally-aware spectrum.